Golf cup



I Jan. 28, 1930. PICHA 1,744,985 Q GOLF CUP Fil ed June 11. 1928 38 In ven for;

E: H Pic/2a.

ztorn e35 I Patented Jan. 28, 1930 v GOLF on? Application filed June 11,

My invention relates to golf cups, and an object is to provide'a device of this character which will support a flag staff rigidly in upright position. Another object is to provide a device of this character having a centrally apertured bottom member of such construction that the support for the flag staff may be readily inserted in the aperture. Another object is to provide a device of this character having provision for ample drainage. Another object is to provide a device of this character which can be conveniently and economically manufactured. I am aware of the fact that it has been proposed to make golf cups having a centrally apertured bottom member for receiving the support for the flag staff, but so far as I am aware the bottom member alone has not been sufiicient to rigidly hold the flag staff support and it has been necessary to provide ribs, sockets and the like in addition to the bottom member for such purpose. Another object, therefore, of this invention is to provide a device in which the bottom member does not require any appendages or additions to hold the flag staff support rigidly in upright position.

The full objects and advantages of my invention will appear in connectionwith the detailed description thereof, and the novel features of my inventive idea will be particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate a practical embodiment of my invention, Fig. 1 is a view of the device in sectional elevation. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the cup.

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the cup.

As shown in the drawings, I provide a substantially cylindrical metal member 10 which constitutes the surrounding wall of the cup which is placed in a hole provided in the ground G for receiving it. The top of the cup is preferably disposed slightly below the surface of the ground so as not to interfere with the golf ball rolling into the cup. The bottom of the cup consists of a cast metal member 12 secured to the inner wall of the member 10 in suitable manner as by welding. The member 12 is provided with a central hole 14, the surrounding wall of which is provided with a number of vertical grooves 16.

1928. Serial No. 284,340.

The upper surface of the member 12 is concaved so as to produce an inclined surface 18* which slopes downwardly from the periphery toward the central hole 14. This upperisurface is provided with grooves 20 which have agreater inclination than the main portion of the upper-surface and lead into the vertical grooves 16. The periphery of the member 12 is provided with a plurality of grooves 22 which are preferably considerably larger than the grooves 16. The lower side of the member 12 is provided with anannular recess 1 24 having inner and outer lnclined surfaces,

EMIL H. PIGI-IA, or ST/PAUIQ, ammo the grooves 22 extending through the ou t er l inclined surface. I also provide a socket member" 2 6 for holding a flag staff 28. The

lower end of the socket member 26 surrounds the upper end of a shank member 30 and is secured thereto in suitable manner. such as by spin-ningas indicated at 32. The shanklmember 30'below the socket member 26 is provided with "a "shoulder- 34 which is preferably inclined so asto fit upon theinclined surface 18 of the bottom member 12. The provision of the shoulder 34 results in the formation of a, reduced section 36 which fits rather snugly into the hole 14. The section 36' is of sufi 'b.

cient lengthto'pass entirely through the hole I .14 and at its lower end is provided with a sharp shoulder 38 below which is a reduced tapered section having a rounded lower 14. During the setting up operation, the

sharp shoulder 38 cleanly cuts away any dirt or sand which may adhere to the wall of the hole 14 sothat the shank will slide smoothly into placewithout sticking. The lower-tapered section 40 readily penetrates the earth below the cup. The result is that the shank moves down until the inclined shoulder 34 comes to rest upon the inclined surface 18 and the flag staff is held rigidly in place without liability of tipping out of its proper Vertical position. It is to be noted that the bottom member 12 is of sufiicient thickness so that the shank has ample hearing or supporting surface provided by the hole 14 whereby it is not necessary to provide any additional support for the shank. The provision of the vertical grooves 16 and 22 insures ample drainage for the cup, the inclined grooves 20 allowing water to drain out below the shoulder 34. The provision of the annular recess 24 allows water to accumulate below the cup in case the ground does not readily carry the water away, the result being that water is not liable to accumulate in the cup.

I claim:

1. A golf cut comprising a substantially cylindrical member, a solid bottom member therefor having a central aperture extending therethrough, and a flag supporting member adapted to be received in said aperture, the lower portion of said flag supporting member having a sharp shoulder adapted to clean out said aperture.

2. A golf cup comprising a substantially cylindrical member, a bottom member having a central aperture, the wall of which is provided with vertical grooves, the upper surface of said bottom member being inclined downwardly toward said aperture, and a flag supporting member adapted to fit into said aperture, said flag supporting member having an inclined shoulder adapted to fit upon said inclined surface and said surface having grooves inclined downwardly to a greater extent than said surface and leading into said vertical grooves whereby drainage is provided underneath said inclined shoulder.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

EMIL H. PICHA. 

